Michigan Health Endowment Fund awards over $ 1 million to Wayne State – Today @ Wayne

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Building Healthy Communities received $ 500,000 over two years to continue to deliver a school program that promotes access to healthy foods and physical activity to 3,600 elementary and middle school students in the poorest school districts.

DETROIT – The Michigan Health Endowment Fund has awarded more than $ 1 million to three Wayne State University projects focused on health and nutrition.

The awards are part of the Health Fund’s Nutrition and Healthy Lifestyles initiative, which funds projects that make healthier habits more accessible to seniors, children and their families.

“We are thrilled to support Wayne State University as it provides healthy eating and physical activity opportunities for Michigan residents of all ages,” said Laurie Solotorow, program director at the Health Fund. “These three programs – comprising school-based care, community-based programs and support for collaborative aging – are a representative sample of the wide variety of important health initiatives that are developing in Michigan.”

The three WSU projects each address different aspects of health and nutrition across the lifespan, from children to adults to the elderly.

Building Healthy Communities, a school program developed by the College of Education’s Center for Health and Community Impact and the University of Michigan, received $ 500,000 over two years to continue to deliver a school program that promotes access to healthy and healthy foods. physical activity for 3,600 elementary school students. and middle school students in troubled Michigan school districts.

Laurel Whalen, Manager of the Building Healthy Communities program.

“This Michigan Health Endowment Fund award is critical in expanding the reach of Building Healthy Communities to more Michigan school districts located in underfunded communities with well-established health and education disparities,” Laurel said. Whalen, from the Building Healthy Communities program. director. “The funds will enable the Center for Health and Community Impact at Wayne State University, along with its many public and private partners, to prevent and reduce childhood obesity, increase physical activity and healthy diets for children and families; and improving school performance – all documented results. for children attending schools that implement the program.

Citizenship for Health was awarded $ 198,892 to implement a model of deliberative democracy to promote healthier behaviors among the 5,000 residents of Detroit’s HOPE Village neighborhood. Through the model of deliberative democracy, residents will develop, implement and maintain solutions to health problems in their community.

Sopory

The practice allows residents to take an active part in the health of their community while strengthening social cohesion. Communication professor Pradeep Sopory and Marc Kruman, professor of history and director of the Center for the Study of Citizenship, lead the program.

“The MHEF grant provides significant funding for the Community Citizenship for Health program, which will strengthen democratic citizenship processes and establish civic engagement habits to improve the health and well-being of the community,” Sopory said. “In particular, the program will deepen democratic deliberative practices in the community, which will enable residents to develop and implement projects aimed at improving nutrition and fitness in their community. “

The Functional Aging and Mindfulness for Seniors (FAMS) program, which received $ 375,000 for two years, will contribute to the health of seniors through a combination of access to healthy foods, physical activity and mindfulness.

Barcelona

Specifically, the program targets specific health disparities in the older population of the Metro Detroit area through physical activity and access to healthy eating, social support, and interaction through groups. intergenerational, caregiver engagement, and environmental and systemic change. The professors of the College of Education Jeanne Barcelona and Mariane Fahlman are leading the project.

“The generous Health Fund award gives us the opportunity to connect and collaborate with an impressive and dedicated network of community partners, including Michigan Presbyterian Villages, the Detroit Area Agency on Aging, Generations United and the Wayne State’s Institute. of Gerontology, ”said Barcelona. “Together, we will build a comprehensive infrastructure that will provide seniors with access to multi-faceted physical activity and healthy eating, social support and interaction through intergenerational groups, caregiver engagement and environmental change.” and systemic. “

About the Michigan Health Endowment Fund

The Michigan Health Endowment Fund is a philanthropic foundation that works to improve the health and well-being of Michigan residents while reducing health care costs. The Health Fund supports organizations across Michigan. From the cityscapes of downtown Detroit to the rural corners of the Upper Peninsula, our partners are doing innovative, evidence-based work to improve the health and well-being of Michigan residents. For more information on the Michigan Health Endowment Fund, visit mihealthfund.org.

About Wayne State University

Wayne State University’s mission is to create and advance knowledge, prepare a diverse student body to thrive, and have a positive impact on local and global communities. Wayne State University is a nationally recognized urban research institution offering more than 350 academic programs in 13 schools and colleges to more than 26,000 students. It is a place of opportunity and excellence. Opportunity means that the financial situation does not affect students’ access to quality higher education at a large academic research institution. For more information, visit wayne.edu.

Contact:
Julie burtch
Director of Foundation Relations
313-577-9026

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